Name That Cookie Contest!

So far August is shaping up to be filled with hot, humid weather and afternoon thunderstorms. Our market today ended up being a wash after a few hours due to lightening and thunder followed by the skies opening up and pouring a ton of much needed rain.

We're kicking of August with a contest. We made a new cookie. This one is of the same base as all the other cookies, Oatmeal, and has dark, milk, and white chocolate chips. The winner of the contest will be given a dozen of the new cookies and their name on our website. So think of a winning name and submit it either through our FaceBook page or email us at info@familysecretsbakery.com. Good luck to all of you.

On a side note, ideas and thoughts are starting to pour out of our minds for new cookies, biscotti, breads, and cakes. Hopefully we'll be able to experiment shortly on a few ideas and if all goes well, start offering them for the fall.

Just a reminder, we are in Cohasset every Thursday from 2:30-6:30 and will be at the Carver's Farmers Market 8/15 and 8/29. If you are looking for something that isn't usually brought to the market but is offered on our website, give us a call or email us and let us know. We'll be happy to make it and bring it to the next market we are at.

Enjoy the month of August. Hope to see you at a market.

Time marches on.

The month of July has flown by. We've been busy baking and selling items at 3 farmers markets. I can honestly say that I felt like I was on a merry-go-round. We enjoyed our time at the Hingham market and made new friends and contacts. It was great to see other customers from other markets show up. Maybe in the fall we'll head back to Hingham for some dates. Right now, it's nice to have only 2 markets to worry about.

Trying to figure out what to bring to the markets is always a challenge. Since we only bring a small sampling compared to what is offered on our website, it never fails that we don't have something someone is looking for. For example: Toffee Chip cookies. They weren't a big hit at the beginning of the season so we stopped bringing them along with us only to find people asking for them. Another cookie having the same results are the Freedom cookies. The Blondies and Southern Comfort cookies have a certain following, but lately they're selling out before the Original or Peanut Butter Cups. Don't get me started on pies or breads. One week, all the breads can sell out in an hour but the pies are slow moving. The next week we bring more breads and less pies and it's the pies that are flying off the shelves instead of the breads. At this stage in the game, we just laugh about it. We're reminding customers that they can email or call us a few days before we show up and ask us to bring/make something for them. We'll hold it for them on market day. So far this concept has caught on.

We love hearing feedback from our customers. One elderly gentleman from the Hingham market raved about the Apple Pie. Another lady from the same market commented that on the Cream Cheese Pound Cake. She stated that her elderly aunts absolutely loved it.

August will be a little slower in pace but we're still at the Cohasset Market every Thursday and will be in Carver on 8/15 and 8/29. As fall approaches we'll bring out different breads, like Pumpkin and Zucchini, and Blueberry and Cranberry Buckle and Sour Cream Coffee Cake. If you have any suggestion for new cookies, breads, biscotti, let us know.

Let Freedom Ring!

It's hard to believe that July 4th is just around the corner. Some would say it is the official start to the summer. The 4th of July is a time to gather with family and friends for great cook-out food, fellowship, fun, and of course, Fireworks. Usually one participates in watching a town parade or attending a town's firework display. Some brave souls travel into the city and watch the Pops play at the Hat Shell or line the banks of the Charles to watch the Boston night sky light up. Wherever or whatever the 4th finds you doing, take some time to dwell on what this holiday means. We've come a long way since 1776. Let's not forget what this country was founded on or what our soldiers have fought for and are currently fighting for. If you haven't done so, take the time to say "Thank You" to a veteran or to a family who has a family member currently serving in the military, whether it be here or abroad. As Americans we have a lot of liberties and freedoms that a majority of the world does not have. Let us not take it for granted because it can easily be lost.

In honor of our country and of our military both past and present, we created a cookie called Freedom. Cranberries, white chocolate chips, and blueberries are baked in oatmeal to make this delicious cookie. If you happen to catch us during this season, try one out. They are our featured cookie this coming Thursday at the Cohasset Market.

Thank you to all of you that have served your country, for being willing to give the ultimate sacrifice so that we may continue to enjoy the freedoms we have today. God Bless you.

Let Freedom Ring!

Repeat Customers

Our first market of the season was in Carver on June 20. Though it was Father's Day, we had a lovely day. It was great seeing customers from last season and meeting new customers. Thank you to all of you that stopped, by both repeat customers and new ones.

We'll be at the Cohasset market tomorrow from 2:30 to 6:30. The market is located on the commons just up from Cohasset Village. Stop by if you are in the area. We look forward to meeting you.

Let the fun begin!

We'll were gearing up for our first Farmer's Market of the season. Currently we are busy baking cookies and other delicious treats. If you haven't found a market near you, check out Edible South Shore's website for a list of all markets in the area. There is nothing like spending a few hours at the market. Nowhere can you find fresh produce, locally made crafts, baked goods, and other local treats. Get out and support local farms and businesses. We hope to see you some time this season. We're in Carver on Sundays, Cohasset on Thursdays, and will be in Hingham on Saturdays during July.  Let the fun begin!!!

More dates!

We added Cohasset Farmers Market to our schedule this season. The market is on Thursday from 2:30pm to 6:30pm. It is located on the town commons. The market officially opens June 17. We'll be there starting June 24th and will continue to be there almost every Thursday. Stop by if you are in the area.

We also added a trial run at the Hingham market. Hingham has two markets located at the Bathing Beach, right along Route 3A. There is a market on Wednesdays from 2pm-6pm and on Saturdays from 10am-2pm. We'll be in Hingham on July 10, 17, and 24 with the possibility of adding more dates as the season progresses.

If you haven't experienced a farmers market lately, head on out. There are many markets around the area and it is the best way to buy items locally. We look forward to meeting you. So if you see our tent, stop by and say "Hi!"

Let the Season Begin!

As the weather starts to get nicer, people are gearing up for the farmer market season. Hingham's market starts this weekend while markets like Carver, Cohasset, Plymouth, and Marshfield start roughly the second week in June.

Last year we ventured out and committed to dates in Carver. We enjoyed our experience so much that we are returning to Carver this year while hoping to add some more dates at other markets. Getting to know the other vendors and meeting new people weekly was a highlight of our season last year. We're looking forward to this upcoming season.

Carver Farmers Market  is held in the park in the center of town (route 58) on Sundays from 12pm - 4pm. There are activities for the kids, live music, and lots of different items to choose from. The dates that we will be in Carver are: June 20, July 11 and 25, August 15 & 29, September 5 & 19, and October 3 & 10. We may pick other dates but for right now these are the ones we are committing to being at come rain or shine.  Stop by and see us. For those of you who are repeat customers, we look forward to seeing you.

We are planning on scheduling some dates in Cohasset. The Cohasset Market is held on the commons on Thursdays from 2:30pm to 6:30pm. We'll post the dates to our website once we finalize them. We are scheduling a trial run at Hingham's Farmers Market. There are two markets in Hingham, one on Saturdays from 10am-2pm and the other is on Wednesdays from 2pm-6pm. Both markets are located at the bathing beach in Hingham off of Route 3A. Once we know when these three Saturday dates will be, we'll let you know. We're also looking in to doing some dates at the Marshfield market. The Marshfield Farmers Market is held on Fridays at the Marshfield Fair grounds from 2pm-6pm. If we decide to do the Marshfield Market, we'll let you know.

Thing that is about it. We hope to see you at one of these markets. If we don't know you, introduce yourself to us. We usually make items just for the markets that can't be purchase through the website so if you are out and about, come check out our table.

Enjoy the beautiful weather! Let the season begin!